142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0IOodsrdD
Springtime came early for those living on the outskirts of the city. It had been a mild winter which was a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhlYjSHdXg
rarity these days, but the citizens weren’t complaining. They still had piles142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6rbzmdoX4
of firewood to save for the next year and they didn’t have to deal with their142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7beeQhP6n
livestock’s deaths. They walked to work with a happy step and a jaunty tune.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYhqWyrFlL
They skirted the forest entirely for only fools went in there. Fools and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xS9yq0orn
Blades.
In the center of the forest, hidden from many unless you knew where to look, was a compound surrounded by142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7xpU8sGve
massive wooden walls blemished from years of weather damage. Before it had been142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NIn3FAFaq
a stronghold where the King’s elite soldiers and guards trained, but now it was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSKqRLQeVY
a relic of times long past. No one had used it for five years since the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxxY2IxSeH
incident, but now it was once again alive with the sounds of clashing swords142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrQfcTVxL5
and unhappy trainees.
For the past six months the newest class of incoming Blades lived, learned, and trained within these walls.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBP5Xfefwt
Becoming a Blade wasn’t an easy task. Many didn’t survive the year, some died142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnVQhy1Qpg
while others dropped out because it was too difficult. From there their either142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx97EDBJyR3
went back home with their heads hung low, or they joined the army and swelled142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTe4oLG3NK
the ranks of the worlds greatest military might.
Inside the singleton building, all the way in the room closest to the training ground, a man sat at his desk looking142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflXJfcxCdB
at a letter that had just arrived via carrier pigeon from the city. The pigeon142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD5Ico8Iic
had flown off to rest in the hut on top of the building leaving the man to look142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u5qTJ3hXQ
it over.
Vander, a Blade captain who oversaw142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3b8q9aiNL
this year’s recruits, stared at the official seal of the Blades on the back of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaY3BwV8RT
the letter. It was addressed to him.
Vander was in his twenty-fifth year of life and his eighth year as a Blade. He had been promoted to Captain a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHQqhTEJk0
year or so earlier before he left the city to come here for training. Unlike142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVlgj8uUyp
other Eluvian’s, his hair was pure white, the color of snow. His light green142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0zTMRhFiE
eyes, tired of staring at the letter, turned his head to investigate the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6dTv8YA6s
training grounds where his charges were training with the other Blade,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpR6JVjYfm
Alexander, who instructed them in hand-to-hand combat.
Alexander was a giant of a man standing well over six feet tall. His shoulders were broad, his arms the size142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzygHuxF1Sv
of Vander’s head. Despite his size he was very nimble and scrappy in a fight.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QYQlJq9Js
He was the perfect person to teach them how to fight using their bodies. Today,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYo2osoT7We
despite the cool chill in the air, he wore a black tank top, black cargo pants,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYSb7P02xh
and military grade boots. He could hear the man shouting at them, but he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdB9CoiGoc
couldn’t tell what it was. Sighing, Vander turned back to the letter142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclKodd1OCP
suppressing a shiver.
Only one person could have sent this letter. His grandfather, Charles, was the only person who knew where he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLyv8gaEJB
was and had access to the seal. Whatever was in the letter, it wasn’t good.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLilfJA9foL
Despite once being close, after the incident several years ago, they two of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPsS4ib8aU
them had barely said a word to each other. The way his only living family142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjDHXOOOMl
member had turned his back on him stung, but he stuck around because this was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfQvsqozvj
the only life he knew.
He turned to look at his bed where a massive white wolf stared at him with concern in her eyes. Shea tilted her head142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUgb0FpCiL
slightly to the right. Deciding that she was right, Vander put the letter down142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYoW3OVx9Q
convincing himself that it could wait until later. He grabbed his jacket from142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHAK0e2hBM
the back of the chair and walked out of the room leaving the door open long142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBDjvORbPE
enough for Shea to snake her way through the opening.
He put the jacket on to protect himself against the cool springtime air as he left the building. The jacket was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTydiYhbtq
a status symbol that marked him as one of the Blades, Eluvia’s elite soldiers142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AoOKqRkyM
whose main job these days was to protect the royal family, the Elan’s, who142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwIPWN9GUr
ruled all of Eluvia. It was teal colored with two black bands going down the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhpOR103sB
front and along the bottom trim. It came down all the way to his knees and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTZkagXGZb
there was a small slit where the hilt of his sword could poke out when he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Jk6djkWe
decided to wear it. There was a red arm band attached to the left side marking142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0viwkTs9N
his rank as Captain. His black boots crushed the blades of grass under foot as142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4eJaXVoPA
he walked towards Alex. Shea trotted off towards a tree so she could rest in142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBibe9RJoaz
the shade as her master did his duties.
Alex acknowledged him with a slight nod of his head, but he soon turned back to watch the trainees practice142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgiVTxu8Rf
their wrestling moves on one another. They were practicing pins, which wasn’t142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcvR3eHnLn
useful in fighting for one’s life, but when it came down to capturing suspects142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J81gMAhyW
or criminals, it would become very helpful to learn. It would also help them142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK10ec3loO
use muscle groups they didn’t normally use it their training.
“How’s everything coming?” Vander asked. He stood with his hands held behind his back, his eyes or demeanor142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI2Km46rOw
giving nothing away.
“We are lucky we have six more months to get them ready.” Alex grunted. His critical eyes gazed over the pairs142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbQQZob7Ut
with irritation. “They have come a long way since we’ve first come here, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1axhGr6H1
their progress is still slower than I would like.”
Vander watched as the siblings Rooster and Chicken squared off against each other. Rooster was bigger and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHyu678NHt
stronger than his sister, but she was quick moving. Several times she was able142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJGAzs2DwL
to take his back and get him to tap out before he could even get her in a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgcCCWtxUx
headlock where his size would have the advantage.
He wasn’t quite sure where the two of them had come from before making their way to Eluvia, but they were both dead142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp3vDXV6HL
set on becoming Blades. Chicken was younger than they would have liked as they142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH45tI8ixJ
only accepted those between the ages of sixteen and eighteen, but her142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIolxX6tI50
determination to join coupled with the fact that her brother wouldn’t leave her142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEPQfSU6D0
behind convinced him to take a chance with her. It appears it was starting to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXoWsKwsgD
pay off.
“Alright,” Vander shouted. “That’s enough. You can rest for now.” Upon hearing his voice, the five of them relaxed142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzAzTIR5cA
and slumped to the ground. Rooster lay down facing the sky. He was breathing142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpyzj9qCKi
heavily, and his face was a bright red, likely from both exhaustion and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmirvbGEBy3
embarrassment. His orange hair was plastered to his face clung there with142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBEGwDxCHh
sweat. His sister’s hair was a lighter shade of orange, but more freckles142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtowq4kKgsB
dotted her face that his. She clapped him on the shoulder when she sat next to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP9YeQxuAC
him.
The other three also sat down, but they kept their gaze focused on him. Eve, the defacto leader of the group, sat142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZuXJPRyPS
in front of them with her steel gray eyes locked on his. She was breathing142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGcPtyuuIb
lightly after her practice as if she could have gone on for hours more while142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKyzZ42nm6
the rest could barely stand. Her dark black hair was tied back in a ponytail.
Briar and Forest, he was unsure if they were siblings or not, sat next to each other their faces unreadable. They142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkXphUxhXR
were both clearly exhausted, they had been paired up with Eve after all, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2aCn4XlXA
their eyes hungered for more. Briar, the female, had light brown hair and brown142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZHBsBK0rE
eyes. She was a stand your ground kind of fighter. She didn’t care who she was142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJjoD8Mqlj
up against, she would throw hands with anyone who looked at her funny.
Forest was her opposite. He wore his blonde hair sheared short; his blue eyes always looked for a way to take his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptaHND7mbn
opponent off guard. He wasn’t above throwing dirty shots or tossing dirt at142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuG7PtAHes
your face. He did whatever it took to win, even if many believed his tactics142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5TPwhtYIC
were disgraceful.
Each of them wore black pants and a black tank top. They were given jackets, not as nice as full Blades, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX8PhdsaAM
functional. They had to earn the privilege of wearing them which would only142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr8gMHzjkA
happen once they proved themselves worth. In the meantime, their jackets were142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQKH6jhXfa
shit brown with green arm bands on the left arm marking their status as142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpNq3n9NAy
recruits. Instead of swords, they were given lumps of iron that were the same142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUsIll0wLy
length and shape, but twice as heavy. They would earn the swords once they142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZCfFllTfg
became full Blades.
“At this point in time you are the halfway mark of your training.” Vander waited for their cheers to die down142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpouzK6y5F4
before continuing. “However, Alex is not happy with your progress. What should142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMPtUqBYrd
we do to see if he is right?” Chicken and Forest hung their heads, but Eve142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmKSZKAUjd
fired back with an answer.
“How about we fight him?” she suggested. “All we’ve done is fight each other while he sits on the sidelines142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxk1lI34jpT
judging us. Let us prove ourselves.” The others perked up at the idea. While he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwO9a5fag3
didn’t show it, Vander was happy with her proposal.
“What do you think?” He turned towards his friend. If Alex was surprised, he didn’t show it. It was how their group142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ965zvK2mym
decided to prove to their mentor they were ready. They were beaten quickly, but142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRvLRdD8p6
if anything, that made their passions burn hotter. It was a good lesson for142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfdEZ56JnV
them, and it would be a good lesson for these recruits as well.
“I’m down, but don’t come crying to me when you lose.” Alex growled.
“I have a better idea though.” Vander removed his jacket before handing it to Alex. “How about the five of you fight142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wk5SDONbo
me? I want to see how much you all have improved.”
“Do we get something if we win?” Briar asked. “Otherwise, it won’t be fun for us. I’d rather get beaten up trying to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ObC8EIp28
get something than nothing at all.”
“Do the rest of you agree?” They all looked at each other then nodded their heads. Vander thought for a moment142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaFagVJdS4
before an idea popped into his head. “How about this: If anyone one of you142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlftAoRNKHO
manage to beat me, I will treat you to dinner when we get back to the city,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkvUWLorkB
which will include drinks.”
“Aw yeah!” They got their feet and cheered. The food in Eluvia was much better than the food they had out here.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSX8j1q08F
The fact they wouldn’t have to pay was just a bonus.
“Settle down!” Vander shouted over them. “If you want a wager, there must be something in it for me as well. If I beat you, you will go142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvi1GGYWLrv
for a run in the forest with twenty pounds added to your packs.”
“Anything but that.” Rooster groaned.
“Come on,” Vander grinned. “Out of all the things I could ask you to do, a run through the woods is small by142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXMGla5y5s
comparison.” The muttered to each other before finally relenting. The hope of a142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs12Zpa13E7
solid meal on top of booze was enough for them to agree to the wager. What they142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGjDOZiheT
didn’t know was that Vander was going to treat them anyway, but it wouldn’t be142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaVRMx4mE1
good to tell them that now.
“Mind if I go first?” Rooster got up from his spot on the ground and went to stand in front of his mentor.
“What would you like to fight with?” Vander asked. “Swords, knives, fists? Take your pick, whatever you want.”
“Swords please.” Vander nodded to Alex who walked towards the fence where their weapons were hanging up. They didn’t142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNGEs4J2ju
use normal weapons while sparring. Instead, they used weighted steal. The142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbe9QdsK1M
approximate dimensions were the same, but the weight was doubled, and the edges142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJX6FWZzXB
were blunt. This way there would be no real injuries during practice, but they142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj8pdRG7gV
could still build muscle and train how to use them.
Alex handed one of the swords to Vander before crossing the field to hand the second to Rooster. He stood in142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw9ULPBtC2
between them, off on the side, and raised his hand. “Begin!” He shouted.
Rooster being the plucky little kid he was, launched himself forward swinging the lump of metal aiming for Vander’s142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGSf67KJVA
face. Vander brought his own weapons up, the clanging in his ear caused him to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJQVZHUzec
go deaf for a second. Using the kid’s momentum, Vander tripped him as he went142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34nx2cXVa3
past and cuffed him upside the head. Angrily, he righted himself and swung for142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3GILyieFt
Vander’s ribs. He blocked the strike again using more force than was necessary.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadHjPWsn8g
While Rooster was off balance, Vander tapped him three times: once on the arm,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0c6oTLWfj
once on the leg and once in the ribs. Rooster dropped to one knee his face142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6Yu9wSI9l
flushed with anger.
“Swings are wide, and you rush in when you should be a little more cautious.” Vander said. He held out his hand which142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJYwqk5Keo
the young man took after a couple seconds. “With a little more practice, you’ll142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FePgl0AQf
make a good swordsman. Now grab your weights and sit with the others.” Grumbling,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnqjj0Udz6
he stalked over to where the weights were, grabbed a couple, and went back to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR5qLCPjuX
his spot on the ground.
Chicken shook her head which didn’t really surprise him. She wasn’t much of a fighter preferring the safety of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLR6aIK2ZL
books and paper. They could always use more administrators within the Blades,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DW9u3zXoa
but she still had to learn to defend herself. She walked over to grab her own142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaJNCZgmzy
weights and sat down next to her brother.
“Do you mind if we come at you together?” Briar and Forest asked. That was surprise to him as he didn’t think142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zyBSirtCq
the two of them ever got along, at least not while he was paying attention.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Szz2VHZSd
Perhaps they would surprise him so he would allow it this time.
“What weapons would you like to use?” The two of them looked at each other before nodding.
“Bare hands.” A surprise, but not an unwelcome one. Vander stripped off his jacket and tossed it to Alexander. The142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYJAKIf8z0
cool breeze felt good on his bare arms. He stretched a little bit while keeping142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27x7K2msrW
an eye on his two challengers. If they were nervous, they did their best not to142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCU9sdacfE
show it. However, he could see their fists clenching in anticipation. He stood142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwplHhvz2Q
at attention then smiled.
“Whenever you’re ready.” Forest and Briar raced off in opposite directions trying to get him in a pincer movement. While he was focused on one, the other could take his back and grapple him before he had a chance to defend himself. So, he did what anyone in his position would do, he struck first. He went after Forest because he was the strongest of the two. He must not have expected the attacked because he barely had time to defending himself from the punch Vander threw at him. Forest blocked directing the strike away, but it clipped his ear. He stumbled sideways clutching the side of his head. Vander grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him in front as Briar came in with own punch. She collided with Forest and knocked him to the ground.
“I’m so sorry.” Briar gasped. She held her hand to her mouth as she watched Forest struggle to his feet.
“You shouldn’t take your eyes off your opponent.” Vander whispered in her ear. She spun around to hit him but was too142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYVkKaGAmH
slow. He punched in the stomach causing her to double over in pain. Then he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP2sHMS821
finished her with a punch to the jaw knocking her to the ground.
“Briar!” Forest struggled to his feet. Vander kicked him in the ribs knocking him back down.
“If they two of you are going to be worried about each other during a fight, you leave yourselves open.” Vander142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWU9zqdrcd
explained. “Trust the person watching your back or you’ll both just get in each142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNls7uOkHmm
other’s way. Next time come at me one at a time so I can gauge your true142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe57rPIivL1
skills. Now get your weights and join the others.” Forest and Briar helped each142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjgZ4qifl4
other over to the rack before collapsing on the ground. The injuries they142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCDiDrttxu
sustained would last a few days. It would be a painful lesson for them.
“This makes it my turn.” Eve got up from the ground and brushed off her pants. She walked over to the rack then142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpNS31o7e8
picked out two daggers to use. The daggers were her go-to weapon of choice.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tZ5X4bLTb
There wasn’t a day that passed where she didn’t practice with them. She twirled142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdTkyyS88m
them around in between her fingers and clasped one in an over handgrip and the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDJ1tBbY4Z
other in an underhand grip.
“Would you like me to use daggers as well?” Vander asked.
“Use whatever makes you comfortable.” She shrugged. He rolled his shoulders and motioned for her to come at him. She142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUVcF3r0Wu
didn’t hesitate to rise to the challenge.
The fight was quick and brutal. She was quick with the slashes, but as they were lumps of metal, they didn’t really142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSdGbmDv0l
draw too much blood, but even if they were, the cuts would have been shallow at142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjkRxt8ixt
best. The best way to deal with someone using daggers to fight is by guiding142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQWvPKFt2Q
their weapons away from the body using a towel or anything to keep the edge142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk66OEjLfS9
away. Daggers, like fists, were an intimate way to try and kill someone.
As Eve stabbed down with a dagger, Vander brought his arm up to block the strike. At the same time, she stabbed up142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQljBftIz9r
with the second trying to get him in the stomach. He grabbed her wrist with his142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNBhWlKZtl
second hand. As the two of them struggled, she brought her knee up to try and142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGD69zro2s
weaken him, but he blocked with his leg. The impact jarred him, but not enough142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSVG44Q1dn
to weaken his grasp. He snaked his hand around her wrist and squeezed. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7J0QnPNYe
twisted her arms together until she screamed and dropped both weapons. She142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvtp06YQ57
brought her head back then slammed it into Vander’s face.
He felt his nose crunch under the blood. He stumbled backwards clutching his hand over his gushing nose. Between142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡng78OANU6h
the tears, he saw Eve scoop up her daggers and charge at him. He reached for142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq6o9u8svt
his sword, but it wasn’t there. He had forgotten he didn’t take it with him142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMAur6aBno
when he left his room. With a cry off annoyance, he bent down and grabbed Eve142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz695UV5z8f
around the waist knocking the air from her lungs. Using the weight of his body,142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgneVPZrGaq
he slammed her down onto the ground. The daggers flew from her grasp. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9kgLgWrUv
grabbed both wrists then pinned them above her head. She thrashed on the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlFnvIFJzI
ground, but he was heavier and stronger than she was.
“I yield.” She gasped. Vander got up off her and took the handkerchief Alex offered him to staunch his bleeding142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXF4v2VLUR
nose.
“Clean yourself off and get to your run.” His voice sounded bubbly due to holding his nose, but the recruits knew142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0itWLCzrg
not to disobey him. He watched as they got to their feet and within a few142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HBAe1gIdZ
minutes they were gone.
“She almost had you.” Alex grabbed Vander’s shoulder. “Are you alright.” He wiped his nose then shot a wad of142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYh6H2wXu8
blood out onto the grass.
“I’m lucky I have more experience with these kinds of fights.” He explained. “In a few more years she would have142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwLzqNAnCO
caused me problems.”
“We good crop, but I’m worried about them. Rooster is strong, but is worried about his sister, Chicken doesn’t care142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY4AjlSR6P
about fighting and Forest and Briar are more worried about each other than142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNffJRn8bfB
fighting.” Alex explained. “It’s a mess.”
“Eve is the strongest of the group, but I’ve seen the way she looks at them. Seems she thinks they are dead weight.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXtKzW9b6v
We need to bring them together.” Vander sighed. “We can come up with something142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKz2z016Ta
later, I need to wash up and get the blood off my face.” He turned towards the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKo0hGLoln
slumbering wolf. He let out a low whistle. A few seconds later she sleepily142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLRCrzYjYt
perked her head up. “Watch them.” She gave him a toothy yawn but rolled to her142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCfZDE4i9w
feet before trotting after the recruits.
“I’ll get lunch ready.” The two of them went their separate ways.
After Vander washed his face and changed his clothes, he sat down in his chair willing himself to relax. In the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBziKepwlj
short time they had been here the group had become closer, but to their142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamVsoE3X56
detriment. They couldn’t get out of each other’s way long enough to improve. He142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpPpsQOpqj
would have to do something to fix that. As he sat there pondering, he heard the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2Bhm2HQ0Z
recruits coming back from their run and collapsing on the ground. Shea pushed142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWrAUzFEpX
open the door then jumped onto the bed to curl up and go to sleep.
As he sat watching her, he remembered the letter from his grandfather that had come earlier. Grabbed his knife, he142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVyuUl8ubU
cut open the top and pulled out the letter. He recognized the writing instantly142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2SlulTT9D
as his grandfathers. It read:
Vander,
I need you and Alexander back in the city142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhaHgP6OBK
within the next couple of days. I know you have another six months left in the142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WrDcoyP9p
woods, but it cannot be helped. I can’t explain everything to you in this142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQe6wnvxjtb
letter, but I promise we will sit down and talk when you arrive back. Please142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsW34XKowp
trust me on this, come back.
-Your grandfather, Charles
P.S. This is a Red Alert.
Once he read the Red Alert, he knew that it was an emergency. Only a couple of things would warrant his grandfather putting that in a letter recalling him and none of it was good. The rest of the letter didn’t matter to him. He crumbled it up and slipped it into his pocket. He rushed outside to call the others to him.
They would have to leave tomorrow.
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